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| © steven fallon |
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peaks
ascent distance time start finish maps |
Sgurr Fuar-thuill
(1049m, Munro 82)
Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais (1083m, Munro 60) Carn nan Gobhar (992m, Munro 153) Sgurr na Ruaidhe (993m, Munro 151) 1580m (5,200ft) 24km (15m) 2:20hr (plus 15min on bike) Loch a'Mhuillidh (NH 224 392) 2km east of Loch Monar (NH 224 392) OS landranger 25 |
| main route summary An easy route, mainly on good paths and tracks can be done in well under 3 hours. Sgurr na Fearstaig and Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais are fine peaks, whereas Carn nan Gobhar and Sgurr na Ruaidhe are hills with broad flat summits. Best to do the route clockwise leaving Coire Mhuillidh to the end as it is very wet underfoot. |
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main route outline To get to the start At Struy Bridge, a sign points to Strathfarrar, from where there is a short drive to the gate barring access to the glen. See details below for access arrangements through this gate. Drive along the glen, note the speed limit is 30mph, but the local, the hydo-board and post traffic travel a lot quicker than that ! You'll be suprised at the amount of wildlife visible, probably due to the glen being quiet. It's 12km to where a track heads of right up the hill by the Allt Coire Mhuillidh. This is the end of the hill-route, so park your car here. I tend to bring my bike with me in order to cycle to the start of the hill-route. Braulen Lodge, which is passed on the way, is well kept up, but I've yet to see it occupied. It's 7km to the start, where I tend to leave my bike just after the forestry and the bridge at the junction with the track heading uphill. Sgurr na Fearstaig Start up this track, past the hyro works and follow the Allt Toll a'Mhuic. The track quickly becomes a path, which is excellent until it has to cross the Allt Toll a'Mhuic. This crossing can be difficult in spate. After crossing, the path is still distinct, but now wetter and therefore not quite so obvious. The path continues past Loch Toll a'Mhuic then climbs up grassy and wet ground. At around c830m, the path starts to turn north and head for the bealach between Sgurr na Fearstaig and Sgurr Fhuar-thuill. Instead of aiming for the bealach, I prefer to aim west and strike directly uphill onto the southern arm of Sgurr na Fearstaig, that way I get the views earlier. On grassy ground, reach Sgurr na Fearstaig, then follow a path to Sgurr Fhuar-thuill. Amazing views west and north from this summit. Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais From Sgurr Fhuar-thuill's summit, turn south-east and follow a path down to the grassy bealach. Up an easy slope to the cairn on Creag Ghorm a'Bhealaich, where Carn nan Gobhar and Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais come into full-frontal view, with Sgurr na Ruaidhe just popping up behind. Initially turn south from this top, and follow the rim of coire round to gradually turn east down to the next bealach. The initial climb up Sgurr a'Choire Ghlais is on grass, then small boulders in grass and finally a field of boulders and blocks on the approach to the summit. There are two large cairns and a trig point on the broad summit. Carn nan Gobhar In mist the continuation of the route might not appear obvious. Just slightly north of the trig point, look for a faint path heading north-east. The path quickly gets lost in a boulder field. It reappears as grass is reached and is obvious down to the bealach and starting up Carn nan Gobhar. Just above c900m, the path makes a distinct pull north-east away from the crest. Keep to this and you'll reach the boulder-field on Carn nan Gobhar's long summit. A small cairn marks the top. Sgurr na Ruaidhe Aim east from Carn nan Gobhar's cairn over more boulders. Once onto grass, start turning south-east, then pick up a path over the heather to the narrow bealach. After an initial short climb, the rate of ascent easies and grassy ground is climbed to the summit of Sgurr na Ruaidhe. Not a particulary exciting summit, but the view back along the ridge is wonderful. Return From Sgurr na Ruaidhe, turn south west and start heading downhill. A faint path is picked up and, although it disappears occasionally into the wet ground, it is obvious enough to follow down to the Allt Coire Mhuillidh. Follow the river down to some hydro works, where a track takes over to follow down to where your car is parked. |
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Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here
strathfarrar area weblinks
Get the local area weather forecast here See todays conditions on the nearby Kintail webcam Bar food and accommodation at the Cnoc Hotel, just outside Struy Affric and Strathglass's local area website is here Cannich has an excellent campsite, website is here alternatives It is impractable to approach these munros from the west or linking them with the Loch Monar hills in a day. Coming in from Strathconon is considerably longer and requires more ascent. Therefore the only alternatives are minor variations on the main route. It is possible to head up Sgurr na Muice for the day's first peak, however after departing from the main path, the thick heather that has to be ploughed through is really tiring. South of Loch Monar ![]() The munros on the north side of Loch Mullardoch can be approached from Strathfarrar. If you are intending to do these as a group of four and not connecting them to the other Loch Mullardoch hills, then the route described below is preferable to that coming in from Loch Mullardoch dam, which requires a long tiresome trudge along the loch's northern shore. Drive to the Monar dam, then cross it and continue to the power station at the end of the tarmac road where there is ample parking. Cross the bridge over the Uisge Misgeach and follow the pipe uphill and into Garbh Coire. Easy going up to Carn nan Gobhar, then continue along the other munros to An Socach. From An Socach's summit head north, then north-west to drop to around c500m, then aim for the gap south of Meallan Buidhe na Fheadain. Pick up the track to follow back to the power station. More details of the Mullardoch peaks are here
strathfarrar access
Strathfarrar glen is owned by various estates and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. Access is not restricted to those on foot or bike, however vechular access is restricted. From April to October the gate keeper will unlock the gate between 9am to 7pm (6pm in April and October), though not Tuesdays or Wednesday mornings or any day between 1pm and 1:30pm. This should allow more than sufficient time to run over these munros. In winter limited vechular access access is permitted by prior arrangement, phone the estate on 01463 761260 or the Mountaineering Council of Scotland on 01738 493942 to arrange
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strathfarrar
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